Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

[wdizneew]

I'm curious if anyone knows someone who has given a less than stellar review of RotR. I could maybe see thrillseekers being letdown that it isn't really much of a thrill ride, and that, say, Dinosaur is more thrilling. But I'd hope not, I hope everyone is able to appreciate what a marvel of engineering, design, and immersion it is.

Oh let me tell you, I rode it last Friday with my parents and sister and they all preferred Flight of Passage and Shanghai's pirates. Granted, they aren't anywhere near Star Wars fans.

My dad was the most disappointed (he said "the AT-AT's didn't move and all the hallways looked the same") but did appreciate the engineering and my mom compared it similarly to Spiderman at IOA but didn't have the same wow factor (i.e. the huge landscapes of Pandora). My sister said there needed to be more storm troopers at eye level (maybe a hallway seen where they're all running toward you?) to make it seem like you really were being chased/more urgent. The worst comment was that they believe the RotR lines will die down after a year whereas FoP continues to get 3+ hr waits (a la Star Tours' 10-20 min waits).

Seems like there needed to be a bit more thrill/more larger screens to give them the "wow". This really bummed me out because it reinforces the fact that screen based attractions are here to stay :/ I personally really like the ride but I guess I can agree the wow wasn't as emotional as when I first rode FoP. However, when I rode the 2nd time solo, I enjoyed the ride even more than the first time.

 

[DarkMetroid567]

Oh let me tell you, I rode it last Friday with my parents and sister and they all preferred Flight of Passage and Shanghai's pirates. Granted, they aren't anywhere near Star Wars fans.

My dad was the most disappointed (he said "the AT-AT's didn't move and all the hallways looked the same") but did appreciate the engineering and my mom compared it similarly to Spiderman at IOA but didn't have the same wow factor (i.e. the huge landscapes of Pandora). My sister said there needed to be more storm troopers at eye level (maybe a hallway seen where they're all running toward you?) to make it seem like you really were being chased/more urgent. The worst comment was that they believe the RotR lines will die down after a year whereas FoP continues to get 3+ hr waits (a la Star Tours' 10-20 min waits).

Seems like there needed to be a bit more thrill/more larger screens to give them the "wow". This really bummed me out because it reinforces the fact that screen based attractions are here to stay :/ I personally really like the ride but I guess I can agree the wow wasn't as emotional as when I first rode FoP. However, when I rode the 2nd time solo, I enjoyed the ride even more than the first time.

I’m in 100% agreement with them, honestly. Even as a big Star Wars fan, the ride just isn’t very thrilling. It doesn’t make you feel like Flight of Passage does.

Compare the scent of Pandora, the weird sensations when booting up, and feeling the Banshee breathe beneath you to...a static AT-AT? It’s obviously not really a real comparison, but I prefer the former.

 

[The Pho]

I'm curious if anyone knows someone who has given a less than stellar review of RotR. I could maybe see thrillseekers being letdown that it isn't really much of a thrill ride, and that, say, Dinosaur is more thrilling. But I'd hope not, I hope everyone is able to appreciate what a marvel of engineering, design, and immersion it is.

It’s an excellent attraction, but I think the “industry defining” attraction people are overselling it. Personally I’d say the preshow is the best part. I’m more curious to see what reviews wind up being after the new ride honeymoon period is over. I’m still not sure exactly where I’d rank it after several rides, but it’s not my favorite ride in either park.

 

[RobWDW1971]

It’s an excellent attraction, but I think the “industry defining” attraction people are overselling it. Personally I’d say the preshow is the best part. I’m more curious to see what reviews wind up being after the new ride honeymoon period is over. I’m still not sure exactly where I’d rank it after several rides, but it’s not my favorite ride in either park.

This is where the creative disasters of Batuu and MFSR help - compared to those misfires, ROTR is the greatest attraction ever built.

 

[ToTBellHop]

This is where the creative disasters of Batuu and MFSR help - compared to those misfires, ROTR is the greatest attraction ever built.

The general guest view thus far is that it’s the greatest attraction at WDW, period. Now, it’s a biased review as any guests who have ridden thus far have REALLY wanted to. Today is the first day where guests who just happen to enter at 9 am can ride today. They woke up after sunrise!

 

[Touchdown]

I’m still trying to decide where it ranks, but I feel it is better then FOP which in the end is a (really good, best version of) theatre attraction. Physical sets are still going trump theatre attractions of similar quality. I’m pretty confident it will land in the top ten dark rides (currently WDW Tower of Terror, Spider-Man, WDW Splash Mtn, WDW HM, DL Pirates, Forbidden Journey, Radiator Springs Racers, FOP, MIB, Indy) I just don’t know where yet. I need to ride it more to burn off the honeymoon phase.

*for the top ten I signal out what I think the best version is and rank based on that, but will not separately rank what I feel to be the inferior version.

 

[Steph15251]

I’m still trying to decide where it ranks, but I feel it is better then FOP which in the end is a (really good, best version of) theatre attraction. Physical sets are still going trump theatre attractions of similar quality. I’m pretty confident it will land in the top ten dark rides (currently WDW Tower of Terror, Spider-Man, WDW Splash Mtn, WDW HM, DL Pirates, Forbidden Journey, Radiator Springs Racers, FOP, MIB, Indy) I just don’t know where yet. I need to ride it more to burn off the honeymoon phase.

*for the top ten I signal out what I think the best version is and rank based on that, but will not separately rank what I feel to be the inferior version.

I have not been on it yet ,but with rides imo ,it is all subjective .Seeing as I have only been to Disneyland once and only gone on 2 rides ,yes two rides but I got in for free so no lost there.And have not been to uni in years so I have not been on many of their rides.

 

[Steph15251]

The general guest view thus far is that it’s the greatest attraction at WDW, period. Now, it’s a biased review as any guests who have ridden thus far have REALLY wanted to. Today is the first day where guests who just happen to enter at 9 am can ride today. They woke up after sunrise!

I am waiting til March or April to ride it,I have a life I can not wake up so early in the morning just to ride one ride.In plus I am blacked out this month anyways.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I am waiting til March or April to ride it,I have a life I can not wake up so early in the morning just to ride one ride.In plus I am blacked out this month anyways.

Luckily I have no life.

 

[socalkdg]

Sounds like a thinly veiled reference to the “angry guy in the basement” defense for anything not done well...

Any good movies coming out this week? The answer is yes...Cats

Cats 17%

 

[disneygeek90]

Luckily I have no life.

Same.

 

[Steph15251]

Luckily I have no life.

As much as I wish I could life gets in the way lol.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Cats 17%

I have little faith that it’s worse

 

[Parker in NYC]

Cats 17%

And I am HERE for it.

 

[DreamFlightFlier]

Does anyone have visibility on the total time required for the lightsaber experience? If I have a 3pm res, but my boarding group for ROR gets called in that time, will I reasonably be able to do both?

 

[Den Carter]

Does anyone have visibility on the total time required for the lightsaber experience? If I have a 3pm res, but my boarding group gets called in that time, will I reasonably be able to do both?

Yes, you’ll be fine. Lightsaber experience is 30 mins max.

 

[DreamFlightFlier]

Yes, you’ll be fine. Lightsaber experience is 30 mins max.

Thanks! I'd heard some reports that the reservation time didn't mean I would actually get in the room then, but now I'm hopeful

 

[JediMasterMatt]

I wanted to pop into the thread and say it was a treat last week to read all of the feedback while we were in Orlando. Hopefully, the ride lived up to everyone's expectations. It was hard to not share everything (which I couldn't and wouldn't); but, also not say too much in the fear that an unreasonable expectation was set in stone.

It's no secret that Star Wars fans (and Disney Parks fans too) have a hard time of not letting their imaginations run wild and the danger of that is always that no matter what reality turns out to be - what you create in between your ears won't match it and that can cause dissatisfaction.

As someone who dropped little hints along the way, I think the things that pleased me most were two things:

First, all of those commenting that Rise's greatest strength isn't in any one attribute. It's how all of the little pieces combine together. Over the last several years, I made comments about how this was going to be the "kitchen sink" ride as it takes every lesson learned over the course of almost 70 years of Imagineering and puts it to use. If you break it apart, there is actually not a whole lot of new ground broken with the ride. What it does best is to take the concepts and execution of what has been done before and meld it together. It would be interesting to break the attraction apart and take every effect/system/attribute and try to tie it back to its theme park pedigree. It would likely be the biggest such footprint of any attraction ever built.

The other thing that pleased me is hearing so many comment about the entire experience instead of just the troop transport RV part of the ride. Had the attraction failed to connect with the masses at the point of that first mission briefing, then perhaps undue focus would be placed in the LPS RV portion of the ride. The whole experience is the sum of all the parts. The attraction has this kinetic motion that kicks into gear once you enter the briefing room and it keeps surging every time another door opens. The cast in Florida deserve compliments on how much they are adding to the overall show.

Kudos to all of those in Imagineering, Lucasfilm, and operations on reminding us of why we love Disney Parks so much. It's amazing to see what they can accomplish when the shackles of budget are removed.

Even though I rode the ride plenty before open, I still wanted to get up every morning at 4:00 AM to head back over to Studios for another spin (or 3 those first few operational days - thanks Virtual Boarding Queue). When asked by either Cast or guests for the rest of our stay how the ride was... I simply reiterated that I was getting up every morning at 4:00 AM as it was worth it.

I do want to share a funny moment I had in line last week. The misses and my niece decided after the first few days to value sleep over more RotR rides, so I was flying "Solo" on my early morning adventures to the Star Destroyer. Last Friday morning, we were in the holding cell hallway lined up on our assigned colors (FYI - blue is the front row of the RV that goes nose to nose with the walker and grey the front of the one that goes up the side). The doorway to the interrogation cell just opened and the very intimidating Cast Member gravely said "the time has come for your to divulge the location of your hidden base. Your interrogation will begin immediately" and without missing a beat, the guest to my side said "I have to pee!!!" very loudly and then crossed her legs and did the dance. This proceeded to cause everyone in our groups to laugh out loud. The CM stayed in character and shook her head and escorted her backstage. It was really awkward as they simply held our entire group until she returned.

It was great to finally get a taste of what Batuu is supposed to feel like. Rise does really elevate the entire experience.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I’ll keep this vague to avoid spoilers, but someone suggested Ep9 would prematurely age this ride. I think quite the opposite. Ep9 explains the behavior of Hux and Ren on the ride. I’ll leave it at that for now.

 

[Mike S]

I’ll keep this vague to avoid spoilers, but someone suggested Ep9 would prematurely age this ride. I think quite the opposite. Ep9 explains the behavior of Hux and Ren on the ride. I’ll leave it at that for now.

I see what you’re saying. I read the leaks too.

Meh.